Procrastinating, Kingdom Saving, and all other forms of Geekdom

Dead Set Part 13

Whiting sat over his sleeping friend. The priest had been asleep for over an hour. During that time, the reporter kept thinking about the fear that overtook him. What was powerful enough to affect them like that? Whatever it was, it obviously was worse for Father Michaels. Fear still lingered in him, but it wasn’t as bad as before. He didn’t know it, but Death was still with them, waiting for the priest to awaken.

Patience was a virtue that Death could afford, but he didn’t feel like waiting today. Using his ability to generate fear, he poured the feelings out of his body. Father Michaels began thrashing, as if having a bad dream. Death walked up to Whiting and put his hand on the man’s shoulder. He froze at the touch of the eternal.

When Father Michaels opened his eyes, he saw Bradley glowing with a powerful presence. It felt like it did when God talked to him. Whiting looked into the priest’s eyes and Father Michaels felt the omnipotence piercing his soul. This had to be the message he was promised. God is talking to me through Bradley, he thought. “Lord,” the priest said in awe.

“Yes, my child,” Death replied using Whiting’s voice.

“Are you here to tell me how to save Christian?”

Death didn’t know what Father Michaels was referring to, but he went along with it. “I come to give you a holy quest,” he said, wondering how the priest knew Life’s name. Then he remembered Whiting and guessed that the reporter gave it to him.

“What is it, Lord? What must I do?”

“The man you know as Christian suffers every time someone breaks one of my laws. As you know, there are many sinners in the world. Stopping them from hurting this man is going to take some work.”

“I am willing to do whatever it takes.”

“I would like to judge these sinners for hurting a fellow man, but I can’t do that while they still live.”

“What are you saying?”

“I want you to bring them before me for judgment.”

“You want me to kill them? Isn’t that against your laws?”

“Normally it would be, but this is a special case. You will not be held accountable for this, for it is the will of God.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“In heaven, I have angels that slay any demons that might arise. Now I need one on Earth. I want it to be you, my new archangel. It will be your job to punish the wicked and send the demons to me to be judged.”

“Now I understand, Lord. Forgive me for questioning your wisdom. I will do as you wish.”

“Good, my son. Now, get some rest, for you will need it.”

Once again, Death pulled a disappearing act, leaving the two men alone. Whiting shook his head, as if waking from a daydream. Then he looked at the priest and saw the determination that had set in. Father Michaels looked different. He was not an old man, but he seemed younger, revitalized. “We must escape,” Father Michaels told him.

When he said that, something snapped in Whiting’s mind. “Yes,” he agreed. “And when we do, we must pay a visit to the worst sinner of all. His name is DS and he’s a killer for the government.”

Whiting didn’t know where these words were coming from, even though he spoke them. He had never heard of anyone named DS, but now he knew almost everything about him. Someone was controlling him. His mind still thought, but his body was not responding to him. “How do we find this DS,” he heard Father Michaels ask.

“With his connections, we can’t do it. He’s too deep inside.”

“Then how do we get to him?”

“By making sure we attract the attention of his superiors,” Whiting responded, a wicked grin on his face.

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Christian went back to his normal routine. His first order of business was to fill out the insurance paperwork on his destroyed apartment building. When that was completed, he turned on the television and was shocked by what he saw. A picture of him was on the screen, apparently from a camera mounted in the patrol car of the officer he killed. He listened intently at what the newscaster was saying.

“If you have any information about this man, please contact Detective Jason Peppers at the Rosewood Hills Police Department. This suspect is wanted in regards to the murder of one officer and the disappearance of another. He is said to be armed and very dangerous.”

“Contact Jason Peppers,” he said to the TV as he turned it off. “I think I will.”

Quickly changing into black clothes, Christian grabbed his keys and headed out the door. As he drove towards the station, he realized that he was being followed. Undaunted, he continued onward, with DS on his trail.